Lunch box



Dec. 11, 1945. r v w, usc 2,390,638

LUNCH BOX Filed July 26,1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Dec. 11, 1945. V. 'w. BUSCH LUNCH BOX Filed July 26, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

j g rl? Hz? 9/ Patented Dec. 11, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LUNCH BOX Vern W. Busch, Rushton, Mich.

Application July 26, 1943, Serial No. 496,135

12 Claims.

This invention relates to lunch boxes and has for its principal object the provision of a lunch box of new and improved design and construction.

Objects of the invention include the provision of a. lunch box provided with a carrying handle at its upper surface and interiorly provided with means for carrying a Thermos bottle, together with means for carrying the weight of the Thermos bottle from the handle without subjecting the side or end walls of the lunch box to any strain because of the weight of the Thermos bottle; the provision of a construction as above described in which the Weight of the Thermos bottle is transmitted to the handle independently of the walls of the lunch box; the provision of a construction as above described in which the means provided interiorly of the lunch box for holding the Thermos bottle are connected directly to the carrying handle; the provision of a construction as above described in which the connection between the Thermos bottle carrying means on the handle also serves to connect the handle to the lunch box; and the provision of a construction as above described in which the lunch box Walls are formed principally from a plastic material.

Other objects ofthe invention include the provision of a novel form of means for swingably suspending a Thermos bottle within a lunch box; the provision of a novel form of pivotal Thermos bottle suspension in a lunch box which relieves the side and end walls. of the lunch box from transmitting the weight of the Thermos bottle to the handle; and the provision of a new and novel means for pivotally suspending a Thermos bottle within a lunch box and in which the lunch box is: formed at least in part from a transparent plastic material, whereby the positioning of the Thermos bottle in the lunch box. is facilitated;

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a lunch box having a removable. end cover, together with anovel means for releasably securing the cover in position; and the provision or a lunch box of the type described formed from plastic material andthe open end of which is reinforced against damage due to flexing.

The above being among theobjects of the present invention, thesame consists in. certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to. theaccompanying drawings, and then claimed,

having the above and other objects in view.

Figure .1 is a perspective-view of a lunch box constructed in accordance with the present inventionand illustrating bydotted: lines-a Thermos. bottle positioned therein;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View taken longitudinally through the center of the lunch box shown in the preceding views as on the line 4--4 of Figure 3';

Figure is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating a modified form of cover catch or latch;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View similar to that shown in Figure 4 butillustrating a, modified form of connection between the Thermos bottle and the handle;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary, partially broken,

vertical, sectional view taken on the line 7-1 of Figure 6.;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a modified form of construction therefor; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, partially broken, transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

The present invention deals with certain improvements in the construction of the lunch box shown and described in my application for Letters Patent of the United States for improvements in Lunch. box filed. October 27, 1942, serially numbered 463,494, now Patent Number 2,333,410, dated Nov. 2, 1943.. The lunch box shown in said prior application is preferably formed from transparent plastic and is provided. with a removable end closure. In my prior application means are provided for supporting a Thermos bottle within the lunch box including a bracket or shelf carried by the fixed end wall of. the lunch box and a. loop adapted to receive the Thermos bottle therein and secured in position by a screw projecting upwardly through it. and into one end of the carrying handle positioned on the upper face of the lunch box.

As will be appreciated, in the constructions shown in my prior applications; that portion of the weight of the Thermos bottle carried by the described loop is transmitted directly to the carrying handle without subjecting the side walls of the lunch box to any stress. That portion of the weight. of the Thermos. bottle transmitted to the shelf or bracket: described is necessarily transmitted through the corresponding end wall of the lunch box and through the top or side walls thereof to the handle. Inasmuch as such lunch floox is preferably made from a plastic material, such as any suitable artificial resin: different types of which are now found on the market and which material is not capable of withstanding stresses to the degrees which would be possible with an equal thickness of metal, it will be appreciated that the transmittal of part of the weight of the Thermos bottle through the end and top wall of the lunch box in my prior application is not desirable and it would be better if it could be avoided. In accordance with the present invention, the entire weight of the Thermos bottle is transmitted to the carrying handle entirely independently of the side, top, or end walls of the lunch box and therefore the weight of the Thermos bottle does not subject the side, top, or end walls of the lunch box to any strain whatsoever while the lunch box is being carried by the handle.

In the lunch box construction shown in my prior application above referred to, a novel form of means for releasably securing the removal enclosure is illustrated. However, in practice it has been found that on occasions a. workman may grip the lunch box so tightly between his arm and his body as to cause the cover to be inadvertently released. The present invention provides an improved means for securing the cover in place Which eliminates the above described disadvantage, Other improved features are also provided by the present invention as will hereinafter be more specifically brought out Referring now to the accompanying drawings and particularly to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, it will be noted that the lunch box there shown includes a central main body portion indicated generally at 20 and opposite end members 22 and 24, respectively. These members are preferably formed from plastic material and preferably from transparent plastic material so that the contents thereof may be observed visually directly through the material. The material itself when formed of plastic may be of any suitable transparent plastic material but, of course, is preferably not of such character that will taint the contents of a lunch box with any inherent odor and preferably is a non-inflammable or at least of slow-burning character. The lunch box is, of course, intended to be of a permanent character and for this purpose when the material from which it is formed is of a plastic material, it is required to be of substantiahthickness, preferably of not'less than 0.020 inch in thickness. It has been found that material of this character 3% of an inch in thickness provides a very satisfactory construction.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the main body portion 20 is prefer-' ably formed from sheet material of a width equal to the desired length of the box, plus the width of the reinforcing flange at the open end thereof which will later be described and where employed, and is bent to provide a semi-cylindrical top surface 32, flat sides 34, and a fiat bottom 36, the opposite end margins of the sheet being overlapped as at 38 approximately centrally of the bottom 36 in the particular construction shown and there secured together in a conventional manner. While the ends 22 and 24 ma be formed of slightly thicker material than the main body portion 20, this is not necessary in most cases. The end members 22 and 24 shown are pressed out of sheet material to provide an end face of the same contour as the cross-sectional configuration of the main body portion 20 and the marginal edge portions are flanged inwardly as at 38 so as to socket the corresponding marginal end portions of the main body portion 20 therein. Additionally, each end member 22 and 24 is flanged outwardly as at 40 at the free margin of the flange 38 thereof and particularly along the bottom edges thereof so as to provide a pair of flanges or ribs which serve to space the bottom wall 36 from a surface upon which it is supported and thus prevent such bottom surface from becoming scratched through contact with the supporting surface. The flange 40 over the length of the sides and top of the box serve to impart added strength and rigidity thereto.

The end member 22 is preferably permanently adhered or otherwise secured in position on the corresponding end of the main body portion 20 but the end member 24 is made removable so as to serve as a cover for the lunch box. In my prior application above identified, the end of the lunch box upon which'the cover member 20 is received is of single thickness and experience has shown that under repeated flexing, particularly where employing a catch structure of the type shown in my prior application, the end of the main body portion on which the cover 24 is received may develop cracks. Accordingly, to overcome this defect, in accordance with the more limited phase of the present invention, the material from which the main body portion 20 is constructed is preferably reversely outwardly turned back upon itself as is illustrated at 4|, It thus provides a reinforcement for such end in order to prevent splitting or cracking thereof,

For the purpose of removably securing the end member 24 to the main body portion 20, a pair of pins 42, which may be formed from the same material as the end member 24 and body portion 20, are projected downwardly in spaced relation to each other transversel of the width of the box, through the bottom wall 36 Within that portion thereof which is embraced by the flanges 38 of the cover 24 when in position, and are suitably fixed in such bottom wall 36. The flange 38 at the bottom of the cover is provided with cooperating holes for removably receiving such pins 42.

In the construction shown in my prior application, the upper end of the cover 24 is secured in place by a pin similar to the pins 42 but positioned centrally of the end wall and secured in the top wall 32 and projecting upwardly through the flange 38 through a suitable opening provided therein for the reception of the same, it being released by simply depressing the upper wall 32 adjacent such pin and inwardly of the cover 24 to withdraw the pin from the cover, upon which the upper end of the cover is swung outwardly to release it from the rest of the box. As previously mentioned, it has been found that the flexing caused in this manner tends to crack the open end of the main body portion 20 and, also, on occasions 1f the box is gripped in such a way between the arm and the body of the user that a similar depression of the upper surface of the box occurs, inadvertent release of the catch, and dropping off of the cover may occur. Accordingly, in accordance with one phase of the present invention, a new and improved form of catch is provided to obviate the disadvantages of the type shown in my prior application above identified.

In accordance with the present invention and in accordance with the particular form thereof illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, a resilient rod or wire 44, which may be formed either from metal or from the same or other suitable type of plastic that is employed in the rest of the box,

is util z d, e d hereof being r gi y fixed to the handle 46 which is secured to the top wall 32 of the box in a manner which will presently be described, and projects outwardly therefrom axially of the box over the upper edge of the cover 24 where it is provided with a downwardly and inwardly bent hook-like end portion 48, which bears against the outer face of the cover 24 adjacent the upper end thereof. Preferably, the end wall or cover 24 at the point where the end 48 normally bears against it, is depressed inwardly asat 50 to form a pocket or depression in which the free end of the bent end 48 is receivable, as best shown in Figure 4. The member 44 being of flexible or resilient material, when it is desired to remove the cover 24, the end 48 is simply grasped by the fingers and raised upwardly beyond the upper edge of the cover 24 upon which the upper edge of thecover 24 may be swung outwardly and the cover 24 then shifted bodily downwardly to free the lower edge thereof from the pins 42. Likewise, when the cover 24 is being replaced, the lower edge is first bracketed upon the pins 42, the cover member 24 raised, and the upper end of the cover 24 swung inwardly into closed position, upon which pressure is relieved on the member 44 which then springs downwardly to the position shown to maintain the cover 24 in position.

Where both the catch member 44 and handle 46 are formed from a plastic material, then the catch member may be readily secured in place by simply drilling a hole into the handle 46 for reception of the corresponding end thereof, a suitable solvent applied to the hole thus drilled, the end of the catch 44 inserted in the hole and upon drying of the solvent, it is securely fixed in position. Where the member 44 is formed from metal, any suitable type of connection between it and handle may be resorted to.

One of the important features of the present invention is the method of securing the handle 46 to the main body 20 so as to enable a Thermos bottle to be supported within the lunch box, but Without subjecting the walls of the lunch box to any stress due to the weight of the Thermos bottle while the lunch box is being carried by the handle 46. The handle 46 employed in such case is of the usual U-type illustrated.

In order to support a Thermos bottle in the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, a pair of loops 54 are provided within the lunch box and spaced from each other longitudinally thereof by a distance equal to the spacing between the areas of contact at the opposite ends of the handle 46, with the top wall 32. The loops 54 may be formed from metal, plastic, or any other suitable material, preferably of sufllcient rigidity to maintain its normal shape, and of such diameter as to relatively loosely receive a Thermos bottle such as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 1 at56therein.

The loops 54, as best brought out in Figure 4, are directly secured to the corresponding ends of the handle 46 by means of screws 58, which project through the corresponding 1oops54, upwardly through the top wall 32 and thread into the corresponding ends of the handle 46. Inasmuch as the loops 54 are formed to provide the sole support for the Thermos bottle 56, it will be appreciated that the entire weight of the Thermos bottle and itscontents is transmitted first to the loop 54 and from the loop 54 through the screws 58 directly to the handle 46. When the lunch box is being carried by the handle 46 this weight is transferred to it without any weight being transmitted to the side, top, or end walls of the box. At the same time, the connection between the loops 54 and the handle 46 provides the means which secures the handle 46 to the lunch box. Thus, whenever the lunch box is being carried by the handle 46, the weight of the Thermos bottle and its: contents, which is usually the principal weight of the cone tents of the lunch box, is carried independently of other structural parts of the lunch box, and therefore relieves these other structural parts of the lunch box from any stress whatever due to the weight of the Thermos bottle and its contents. This feature is particularly important in connection with lunch boxes of the type described which are formed either wholly or completely from the plastic material inasmuch as such material is relatively weak as compared to metal.

Where the lunch box and particularly the end wall 24 is formed of a transparent plastic mate-. rial, then, as disclosed in my prior application above identified, a sheet 66 of such material is preferably provided internally of the cover 24, it being secured thereto at its side and bottomedges only so as to form a pocket in which an identification card 62 may be inserted which, although on the interior of the box, may be read. from the exterior thereof.

A modified form of catch structure is illustrated in Figure 5. In this figure, except for the catch member itself, the structure is identical to that shown in the preceding views and accordingly equivalent parts are illustrated by the same numorals and no description of the same, except for the changed parts, is necessary. In the construction illustrated in Figure 5, instead of employing a catch member such as 44 which is rigidly fixed with respect to handle 46 and requires to be sprung or bent in effecting its operation, a catch member 44' is employed. It is formed preferably from a length of metal wire reversely bent upon itself at its mid-point and at its reversely bent end is bent to form a hook 48 of substantially the same character as the hook 48 previously described. At the opposite end, the two pieces of the wire are bent outwardly as at 64 away from each other and then inwardly as at 66 toward each other, the inwardly bent ends 66 being received within a hole extending transversely through the corresponding end of the handle 46, or in complementary pockets formed therein. It will be appreciated that with this construction the catch member 44' is pivoted about the ends 66 for movement in the central vertical plane of the lunch box and the length of the catch 44' is preferably such that the hooked end 48 thereof must be sprung slightly into the pocket 56 and so that it will be retained therein against inadvertent displacement. The same advantages are provided by the construction illustrated in Figure 5 as in the construction illustrated in Figures '1 to 4, inclusive.

In the form of construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, because of the rigidity of the connection between the loops 54 and thehandle 45, when a person is walking and carrying a lunch box of the type shown in which is positioned a filled Thermos bottle, such as 55, there is a tendency for the Thermos bottle to swing back and forth laterally of the lunch box and this tendency is resisted entirely by the connection between the loops 54 and the screws 58. Where the loops 54 are relatively light or flexible, this causes flexing of the loops adjacent the screws 58, which in time may cause the loops to break. If the connection between the handle and the Thermos bottle is such as to permit the Thermos bottle to pivot about an axis extending longitudinally of the lunch box, this disadvantag could be overcome. In Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, such a construction is illustrated. In these figures, inasmuch as the only difference between them and the construction first described is in the connection between the Thermos bottle and the handle 46, this portion of the modified form of construction only will be explained as the remainder of the structure will be apparent,

Referring first to Figures and 6, instead of loops for supporting the Thermos bottle 56 and forming a connection between the handle 48 and the top wall 32 of the lunch box, each of the screws 58 are projected through one leg of an angularly shaped bracket H3, one flange or leg of each of which is positioned against the lower face of the top wall 32, the remaining leg of each bracket projecting downwardly from such top wall 3'2 and being provided with an opening 12 therein forming an eye. The Thermos bottle 56 in such case is provided with a Z-shaped catch member 14 rigidly secured thereto with the foot of the Z fixed to the outer surface of the Thermos bottle 56 and particularly to th metal or other outer casing therefor a illustrated in Figure 7. The heads of both Zs which form pins project in the same direction in parallel relation to each other and to the axis of the Thermos bottle. The brackets 14 are so positioned on the Thermos bottle 56 that when the Thermos bottle 56 is positioned within the lunch box, the heads or pins of the Zs of the bracket 14 may be more or less loosely received in the corresponding openings .12 or eyes of the brackets 10. It will be understood that the lunch box is preferably made of such length that a conventional Thermos bottle will fit within the length of the lunch box and will be prevented from material axial displacement therein when the cover 24 is applied.

The last described form of connection permits the Thermos bottle 56 to swing about an axis including the centers of the pins or heads of the Zs of the brackets 14 which are disposed longitudinally of the lunch box and which therefore relieve the connection between the Thermos bottle and the handle 46 of any stress because of a tendency towards swinging movement of the Thermos bottle. In this case, it will be appreciated that the brackets 10 and 74 not only serve as the means in connection with the screws 58 to transmit the weight of the Thermos bottle direct into the handle 46 independently of the side walls 32 when the lunch box is being supported by the handle 46, but that the same means provide a means whereby the lunch box itself is supported from the handle at, being equivalent to the first described construction in these respects. One thing may be noted with this form of construction and that is that unless the body of the lunch box is formed from a transparent material, it may be rather inconvenient to insert the Thermos bottle in the lunch box and ensure the brackets 10 and M cooperating with one another in the proper manner. However, if the body, and particularly the top wall 32 of the lunch box, is of transparent material, proper cooperation between the brackets H3 and M may b readily effected.

In Figures 8 and 9, a construction very similar to that shown. in Figures 6 and '7 is illustrated, except that it provides a construction which may be adapted to any conventional form of Thermos bottle and without necessitating the securement of brackets such as 14 to the Thermos bottle in manufacture. V

In Figures 8 and 9, the construction is identical to that shown in Figures 6 and '7 except for the brackets on the Thermos bottle. The brackets in this case are provided by means of a pair of split spring wire loops 8!) of such size as to resiliently .grip the Thermos bottle 56 therein when sprung over the same. One end of each loop is extended and first bent laterally, then upwardly, and then again laterally, to form a Z -shaped or hooklike end 82 of the same general character as the bracket 14 in the construction shown in Figures 6 and '7, .forming pivot pins for reception in the openings or eyes T2 of the brackets 10 in the same manner as in the preceding construction. Acc0rd ingly, the vacuum bottle 56 in this last described construction is free to pivot about a line extending longitudinally of the lunch box in identically the same manner as in the previously described construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim by Letters Patent is:

1'. In a lunch box, in combination, a container having sides, top, and an open end, a removable closure for said open end, a carrying handle at the top of said container on the outside thereof, a pair of Thermos bottle carrying elements within said container spaced longitudinally of said container from one another, and means for supporting a Thermos bottle within said container and transmitting the weight thereof to said handle comprising a pair of members within said container spaced from each other by a distance approximately corresponding with the spacing of the op:- p'osite ends of said handle, and means extending between each of said members and the corresponding end of said handle passing through the top wall of said container interconnecting said members and handle.

2. In a lunch box, in combination, a container having sides, top, and an open end, a removable closure for said open end, a carrying handle at the top of said container on the outside thereof, and means for supporting a thermos bottle within said container and transmitting the weight thereof to said handle comprising a pair of members Within said container spaced from each other by a distance approximately corresponding with the spacing of the opposite ends of said handle, and means extending between each of said members and the corresponding end of said handle passing through the top wall of said container interconnecting said members and handle, said connection being i so constructed and arranged as to transmit the load of said container to said handle.

3. In a lunch box, in combination, a container having sides, :top, and an open end, a removable l closure for said open end, a carrying handle at the top of said container on the outside thereof, a pair of Thermos bottle carrying loops within said container and spaced from one another longitudinally of said container by a distance approximately equal to the distance between the opposite end portions of said handle, and screw means'projecting through each of said loops, through the top wall of said container and secured to the corresponding ends of said handle.

4. In a lunch box, in combination, a container having sides, top, and an open end, a removable closure for said open end, a carrying handle at the top of said container on the outside thereof, bracket means on the interior of said container providing apertured ears spaced from one another longitudinally of said container, means interconnecting said bracket means and handle, a vacuum bottle, and pin means on said vacuum bottle pivotally received in the apertures of said ears.

5. In a lunch box, in combination, a container having sides, top, and an open end, a removable closure for said open end, a carrying handle at the top of said container on the outside thereof, a pair of brackets on the interior of said container spaced longitudinally from one another by a distance approximately equal to the distance between the opposite ends of said handle, each of said brackets having an aperture therein, a Thermos bottle, and means on said Thermos bottle pivotally received in the apertures of each of said brackets.

6. In a, lunch box, in combination, a container having sides, top, and an open end, a removable closure for said open end, a carrying handle at the top of said container on the outside thereof, bracket means providing a pair of apertured flanges on the interior of said container spaced from one another longitudinally thereof, means interconnecting said bracket means and said handle, a vacuum bottle within said container, a pair of spring loops encircling said vacuum bottle in spaced relation to each other axially thereof, and a free end portion on each of said loops pivotally received in the corresponding of said apertured flanges of said bracket means.

7. In a lunch box, in combination, a container having an open end, a removable cover for said open end, a vacuum bottle receivable in said container and of a length approximately equal to the interior length of said container, bracket means secured to the upper wall of said container interiorly thereof, and bracket means on said vacuum bottle, said bracket means on said container and said bottle being so constructed and arranged as to be removably engageable with each other and serving to pivotally support said bottle in said container when so engaged.

8. In a lunch box, in combination, a container having an open end, a removable cover for said open end, a Vacuum bottle receivable in said container and of a length approximately equal to the interior length of said container, and cooperating disengageable pairs of pin and eye members secured to said bottle and container, respectively, serving to support said bottle from said container for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said container.

9. In a lunch box, in combination, a container having sides, top, and an open end, a removable closure for said open end, a carrying handle at the top of said container on the outside thereof, means cooperating between the lower edge of said closure and said container forming a connection therebetween, and a catch secured to said handle and provided with a bent end portion overlying the upper margin of said closure for removably securing said closure in closed position.

10. In a lunch box, in combination, a container having sides, top, and an open end, a removable closure for said open end, a carrying handle at the top of said container on the outside thereof, means cooperating between the lower edge of said closure and said container forming a connection therebetween, and a resilient catch member rigidly fixed at one end to said handle and having a downwardly bent end portion normally overlying the upper margin of said closure when in closed position for the purpose of retaining it against inadvertent displacement.

11. In a lunch box, in combination, a container having sides, top, and an open end, a removable closure for said open end, a carrying handle at the top of said container on the outside thereof, means cooperating between the lower edge of said closure and said container forming a connection therebetween, and a catch member pivotally secured at one end to said handle and having a downwardly projecting end portion thereon overlying the upper margin of said closure member and releasably holding it in closed position.

12. In a lunch box, in combination, a container having sides, top, an open end, and a. closed end, a removable closure for said open end, a carrying handle at the top of said container extending longitudinally thereof and having opposite end portions, a pair of Thermos bottle carrying elements within said container spaced longitudinally of said container from one another, means connecting one of said elements to one of said portions, and means connecting the other of said elements to the other of said portions, said elements serving as the sole means for supporting said Thermos bottle in said container and said con necting means transmitting the weight of aThermos bottle supported by said elements from said elements to said handle independently of the walls of said container, said connecting means also serving to connect said container to said handle.

VERNW. BUSCH. 

